JUSTIFI is a free tool that quantifies potential cost-saving outcomes of energy productivity projects. Image by Taylor Henry, National Laboratory of the Rockies.
Free Software Will Help Industry Understand the Full Value of Energy Projects Energy productivity—the measure of how much economic value is generated for every unit of energy used—can be underestimated when multiple benefits are overlooked. Multiple benefits are the operational and strategic improvements—such as productivity gains, quality enhancements, safety improvements, reduced downtime, … [continued]
NLR's Kestrel supercomputer boasts 56 peak petaflops. Photo by Taylor Henry, National Laboratory of the Rockies.
Kestrel Supercomputer Advanced More Than 500 Energy Modeling and Simulation Projects By Julia Medeiros Coad The National Laboratory of the Rockies’ (NLR’s) advanced computing capabilities continue to grow with the demands and complexities of applied energy research, with key upgrades to the laboratory’s Kestrel supercomputer supporting hundreds of projects with … [continued]
Researchers from the National Laboratory of the Rockies and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory are cataloging proteins that can bind to rare earth elements, supporting critical mineral production in the United States. Shawn Laursen, a bioengineering postdoctoral researcher, prepares a protein sample for purification. Photo by Josh Bauer, National Laboratory of the Rockies.
Bioprospecting Tool Could Boost Critical Mineral Refining By Anna Squires Throughout the 1800s, naturalists journeyed to far-flung corners of the world to catalog birds, mammals, minerals, and plants. Now, a team of U.S. researchers is assembling a catalog of their own: an atlas of naturally occurring proteins capable of binding … [continued]
The energy system of Hughes, Alaska, pictured, will benefit from advanced microgrid controls, system optimization, and reduced energy costs with support from a previously funded project through the Community Microgrid Assistance Partnership (C-MAP). Photo from Tanana Chiefs Conference.
The National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR) is launching a new funding opportunity through the Community Microgrid Assistance Partnership (C‑MAP), with funding from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Electricity (OE). This latest solicitation offers up to $2.5 million in direct project funding supported by $1 million in technical … [continued]
NLR Senior Energy Storage Engineer Matthew Keyser holds a sheet of copper discs, one of the metals that comprise the internal short-circuit device recently recognized by NASA’s 2025 Invention of the Year Award. Photo by Ellen Jaskol, National Laboratory of the Rockies.
To Shoot for the Moon, Lab Researchers Must First Learn How To Fail on Earth By Rebecca Martineau Weeks ago, four NASA astronauts completed a pioneering journey around the moon. For 10 days, lithium-ion batteries on Artemis II played an important role in powering various communications, navigation, propulsion, and thermal … [continued]
This figure illustrates the ethylenepyridine linkage between the silicon nanocrystal (Si) and the molecular catalyst cobaloxime (Co). This strong bonding enables formation of a high-energy hybrid electronic state. Image from J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2026, 148, 6, 6412-6421.
Semiconductor-Catalyst Combo Captures Energy To Drive Chemical Reactions By Connor O’Neil Plants and algae make their fuel from sunlight. Perhaps we could do the same using semiconductors. A team of scientists at the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR) made strides in that direction. They discovered a silicon semiconductor coupled … [continued]
Assistant Secretary of Energy Audrey Robertson announced the National Laboratory of the Rockies’ (NLR’s) two memorandums of understanding with the Colorado School of Mines and University of Utah at NLR’s Partner Forum on May 5, 2026. Photo by Joe DelNero, National Laboratory of the Rockies.
Memorandums of Understanding Combine Facilities and Capabilities To Build Pipelines for Tech Commercialization and Skilled Domestic Workforces By Brooke Van Zandt The National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR) this week signed memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with the Colorado School of Mines and the University of Utah that will help strengthen … [continued]
National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR) and Sandia National Laboratories researchers gather at NLR's Flatirons Campus to test and refine open-source modeling tools, such as WEC-Sim, to simulate wave energy converters with greater accuracy and flexibility so developers can predict performance and reduce risk before deploying devices in the ocean. Photo by Taylor Mankle, National Laboratory of the Rockies.
Modeling Advancements Could Help Developers Build More Robust, Seaworthy Devices Wave energy technologies can provide reliable, local power for autonomous underwater vehicles, and at-sea applications across U.S. coastal regions, especially where traditional energy supply is limited or costly. Although some wave energy devices have demonstrated promising performance, most are still … [continued]
The ON.energy team meets with NLR staff at the Flatirons Campus. Photo by Agata Bogucka, National Laboratory of the Rockies.
Inside the First Data Center–Grid Simulator Built To Test the Promising New Technology As demand for data centers continues to rise, many center operators, utilities, and American communities are asking: Can the U.S. power grid handle these energy elephants? The answer depends on just how many elephants the country adopts. … [continued]
Companies Need Critical Minerals for Electronics, Medical Equipment, Crops, and More. These 3 Techniques (and Others) Could Make Some Easier To Get. “The Fast Lane” series zooms in on some of the thousands of technologies born in national laboratories that companies can license today. This iteration focuses on tools and … [continued]
